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Speed up Your Journey, The Safe Way

Running late for work? Worried about missing your flight? It’s not unusual to want to put your foot down in your vehicle when you’re short on time, but going over the speed limit is very dangerous – and not to mention illegal.

So how can you speed up your journey, and stay safe at the same time? While the speed limit is fixed, there are a handful of things you can do to make sure you get to where you want to be on time.

Prepare the night before

Your journey doesn’t begin when you hit the road, it starts long before. As soon as your alarm goes off, you’re against the clock. To make sure you can start driving and leave plenty of time to reach your destination, prepare everything the night before.

Organise your belongings that you need for the day ahead, whether that’s notebooks, electronics or even passports. Have them packed away ready to go, and plan your outfit in advance so you don’t spend ten minutes frantically searching for clean socks. Without proper preparation, it’s so easy to get behind in the morning.

Make a packed lunch, or eat once you arrive

Stopping mid-journey to grab a snack at a service station will definitely slow you down, especially at busy times. Pack breakfast, lunch or dinner so you can eat as soon as you arrive at your destination instead. If you’re travelling with passengers, they can even enjoy a bite to eat while you’re on the move!

Plan your route wisely

If the route you plan to take is one you do regularly, be conscious of areas that are prone to traffic jams, roadworks or disruptions. Choosing a longer route doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll take more time to get from start to finish, as if it’s smooth sailing all the way you might just get there quicker!

Avoid rush hour

It might sound obvious, but avoid rush hour or peak travelling times. Even if this means you have to get up an hour earlier, it’ll reduce your time at the wheel and put a stop to those long, boring minutes spent at a standstill on the road.

The spare time you do have when you reach your destination can be put to good use – listening to a podcast, catching up on work or grabbing a coffee with a colleague are all much better than spending your time stuck in traffic.

Drive well

Research from the University of Bristol revealed that it’s not only breakdowns or accidents that cause huge tailbacks on motorways. In fact, the actions of just one driver can trigger huge queues that stretch for miles. Sharp breaking, changing lanes unnecessarily and overtaking lorries are all major causes of congestion on UK roads.

If we all drive well and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, annoying ‘phantom’ traffic jams should hopefully become a thing of the past.

There are plenty of things you can do as a driver to ensure you get to where you need to be on time, but it’s important to remember being late is much better than breaking the speed limit!